Volunteering Archives - Page 6 of 6 - East Cheshire Hospice

Be part of our 500 Club!

Posted on 17th July 201917th July 2019 by Luke Brightmore

East Cheshire Hospice have paid tribute to local businesses who collectively have raised £35,000 over the past year.

The businesses are all members of The 500 Club – a network of companies who have pledged to raise at least £500 per annum for three years.

They include Leek United Building Society whose branch manager, Veronica McNeil, says Club membership provides a win-win opportunity for both the Hospice and her colleagues.

“Staff and customers engage by getting involved in helping a local charity and of course every penny raised helps the Hospice with their great work,” she says.

“This year we raised more than £2000 by taking part in the Hospice events give a donation for every special East Cheshire Hospice that is opened.”

Another Club member, Blunts Solicitors from King Edward Street, raised most of their £4200 total by taking part in Will Week when legal advice is given for free in exchange for a donation to the Hospice.

Paralegal, Tina Phipps, says their company support continues throughout the year.

“I do legal clinics at the Sunflower Centre and the collecting box in our office is topped up when we ask clients for donations instead of charging for minor legal tasks,” she says.

Corporate Fundraiser at the Hospice, Kate Bowmar, says the Club now has 37 members who all benefit from regular networking events.

“Our 500 Club members are part of an engaged and socially responsible group of businesses who bring real benefit to our work,” says Kate.

Gathering for ‘Gathering’

Posted on 17th July 2019 by Luke Brightmore

After months of enjoying the camaraderie of teamwork, international artist Susie MacMurray is now embarking on the last stages of her newest art creation.

After six months of painstaking sewing supported by 10 volunteers, Susie’s art installation, Gathering, is now in its final stages and will be set to move to Tatton Park in just over 10 days’ time.

Inspired by East Cheshire Hospice, the installation features 3,750 elements of red velvet and barbed wire which Susie is now threading onto the wires that will suspend the installation from the Mansion’s grand rotunda. It will be on display from June 27 to October 6 as part of Art Fair Cheshire 2019.

Susie said: “This final stage is an intricate process and is a solo effort.

“I’ve got a very clear vision of what I want it to look like and pulling it together is like handwriting – my individual interpretation.

“But it’s still a very collaborative piece and it’s been a very meaningful experience to work with the volunteer helpers who’ve all brought their own individual traits to the artwork.”

Susie’s helpers were all volunteers from the Hospice and the group spent many hours at her studio sharing memories of lost loved ones.

Susie, whose husband John died 12 years ago, said the work reflected the whole idea of the piece which is a gathering of people to support each other and share memories.

“We have had so many meaningful, intimate, hilarious and sad conversations whilst working on this piece,” she says.

“The Hospice is such a catalyst for extraordinary acts of kindness, generosity and care and the people who worked with me over the last six months illustrated that.”

The volunteers haven’t yet said goodbye to the artwork. They will once again spring into action to help Susie gently move the installation to Tatton Park where it will take up to a week to secure into place.

Using scaffolding to hang from the Mansion’s rotunda, it will eventually drop down two floors through the staircase atrium .

Afterwards, individual elements will be sold for a £30 donation to the hospice, with small wall pieces also on sale.

Susie has also painted a water colour of Gathering. A limited edition of 75 signed and numbered prints costs £225 each. All proceeds to the Hospice.

For more information visit www.gatheringattatton.co.uk. The project is supported by Arts Council England and The Arts Society.

From Volunteering to Finance

Posted on 9th May 2019 by Luke Brightmore

Browsing through emails whilst on honeymoon created a full-time “dream job” for one Macclesfield lady.

Michele Slack, 51, checked in on her emails whilst in Mauritius in February only to see a job which she knew she would love.

The role of a Finance Officer at East Cheshire Hospice was practically a dream come true for the Lyme Green resident who had plenty of experience working within the Millbank Drive environment.

“I wasn’t necessarily looking for a job but I’ve been a volunteer at the Hospice for the last 18 months and absolutely love the place so when I saw the job advertisement I knew that I couldn’t ignore it” says Michele.

“My mother, Marlene Jackson, spent her final last ten days at the Hospice back in March 2016 following a long illness and I saw at first hand the incredible work they do,” she adds. “The nurses couldn’t do enough for both my mum and my family and I knew I wanted to give something back.”

So Michele became one of the 600-strong band of volunteers who every day take on a range of different roles to support the work of the Hospice.

Michele helped on reception and felt quickly that she was part of the Hospice team and loved that she could fit it around her working life.

“You might think that this is a place of sadness and indeed people endure distressing times but it’s also a place which is full of hope and courage,” says Michele.

It’s not unusual for part-time volunteers to take on full-time roles within the Hospice team. Volunteer Co-ordinator, Helena Smith, says the Hospice seems to get under your skin.

“Another of our volunteer receptionists, Jane Hart, now works as a Clinical Co-ordinator three days a week here at the Hospice. It’s such an accolade for the Hospice that our volunteers get so much out of their volunteering that they want to spend even more time with us.”

Helena can offer a wide variety of roles to volunteers including running the reception, one-off helping at events and regular stints in one of the Hospice charity shops, all of which can be fitted around busy lives.

“Volunteers are always needed at the Hospice and they can give as much time or as little time as they like,” says Helena.

To find out more about volunteering contact Helena on 01625 664984.

Remap Consulting doing their bit!

Posted on 24th April 2019 by Luke Brightmore

Collection tins for East Cheshire Hospice have been given a new look by volunteers.

Staff from Remap Consulting, based at Alderley Park, spent a day re-wrapping around 450 boxes featuring the Hospice logo which changed in 2016.

Collection tins raise around £25,000 a year for the charity and are a vital source of revenue.

The tins are in shops, pubs, bars and other outlets and anyone who wants them is asked to contact the hospice on 01625 433477 or email fundraising@echospice.org.uk.

Remap are a member of the Hospice’s 500 Club, a corporate giving scheme in which local businesses are asked to raise or donate £500 a year for three years.

Kate Bowmar, the Hospice’s Corporate Fundraiser, said: “We currently have 37 members who form a network of forward-thinking, community-engaged and socially responsible businesses.

“The boxes display a number for people to call when full. All sites now have a volunteer collector and once full we’ll arrange for it to be collected. We’d like to place more boxes if possible and it’s a great way to help the Hospice.”

Remap is a specialist pharmaceutical pricing and market access consultancy company.

Sarah Bailey of Remap said: “I was proud to support the Hospice by giving up a day to wrap collection tins, which gave me a feeling of accomplishment. Even the little things can make a huge difference.

“We’ve organised several fundraising initiatives including bake sales and an Easter egg competition, and would urge other companies to help the Hospice.”

Guy Rigby’s Award

Posted on 26th March 2019 by Luke Brightmore

An East Cheshire Hospice charity shop volunteer, who “lights up the room with his personality” has been given a special award.

Guy Rigby, who has cerebral palsy, has been presented by the Macclesfield-based charity with a Customer Champion Certificate to mark his great commitment and enthusiasm.

His working journey began 18 months ago when Guy, who lives in supported living accommodation, told his carer Sue Selby that he’d like to do something purposeful. Within weeks, Guy was welcomed on a part-time volunteer basis into the Hospice charity shop fellow volunteer Anthea Lee.

Sue says: “Guy began with some pretty basic jobs like stacking and tidying the CDs but soon he developed a great rapport with the customers and now he works mostly on the main till engaging with everyone who comes in.”

“Guy sometimes needs to take it slower than other people, but he’s always been able to light up a room with his personality and the customers in the shop have really taken to him”.

Hospice Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Helena Smith, says Guy is a real asset to the shop.

“He has grown massively in confidence and ability and is so good with people in the shop – both customers and other volunteers,” says Helena.

“Within the Hospice, we constantly work to adjust and adapt to peoples needs and its good that we can also take this into the community. Our charity shops act as little community hubs and Guy’s contribution is a part of that.”

The Hospice has three charity shops – in Thornton Square, Handforth and Wilmslow – which all run mainly with the help of volunteers. Full training is given and anyone who would like to commit some time as a shop volunteer can contact Helena on 01625 664984.